Road Trip Ready: 7 Checklist Tips and Tricks for an Epic Journey

Everyone loves to travel, but just a few like to drive. Well, I like both, and the main reason I choose driving long distances instead of flights is probably that, as a freelancer, I have more time to spend on the road than most people, and also because the journeys between our destinations are always filled with surprises, mainly the good ones.

So without further ado here are a few things to consider when traveling with your car (I’d say most of these are valid for a rental as well):

The Route of Your Road Trip

Establish the endpoint and what you plan to visit along the way. Have a rough estimate of how much driving is needed and check the kilometers before hitting the road. Always have a second and even third plan if something goes wrong.

Stops

Set up a calendar for each day to have some rough estimations on how much time you spend on the road and how much time you have to enjoy your desired bucket list locations or activities. Plan rest stops, meals, and overnight stays if necessary. Look for interesting landmarks or attractions along the way. Things to color code on your map for easy tracking:

• Accommodation
  Airbnb, Booking or a place for a tent, put it on the map for easy reach,
• Gas Station
  For long drives try to have your gas full and have a list of possible backups for a refill,
• Landmarks and Attractions
  Having an overview of these can determine your route for the day or for the entire trip,
• Restaurants
  Always have a shortlist of places where you plan to eat, especially when you have little kids.
• Parking
  Think in advance, especially if your accommodation doesn’t provide parking, you might use some well-known mobile apps to book a spot in advance.

Navigation Tools

Depending on your network coverage, always be prepared for rerouting or even a hard stop if things get messy.

• Google Maps
  Is my playground for any travel ideas. I always create maps for every trip with locations I’m planning to visit and routes between destinations. This way I have a visual view of what to expect in terms of road conditions and more.
• Waze
  Is used mainly in Eastern Europe. The application allows drivers to pinpoint where the police cars are hidden by hunting fast drivers.
• Offline Maps
  Is good If you plan to drive in parts where you might lose signal or drive in countries where the coverage is poor, you might think of having installed a few offline options like MAPS.ME, Sygic, or Google Maps. For all of these, you’ll need to download specific maps on your phone.
• The Printed Map
  In case your copilot wants to give you some help when driving. It’s important to know how to orient yourself using an old map. Not to mention, it can be quite fun and turn into a quest for your family!
  

Road Conditions

It’s important to determine from the very beginning if the drive is feasible or not. So create a checklist with the following points to see if your travel will be enjoyable or a continuous set of problems along the way:

• Weather
  Check the road conditions, so that you have your car equipped and ready for any situation.
• Road Taxes
  Some countries have tolls, some have vignettes, and some allow you to drive at maximum speed with no strings attached (Germany). Plan where you can buy a vignette, and if possible buy it online.
• Security
  If you plan to visit places where this is an issue, make a careful assessment of whether you are willing to take the risk. In most cases, you should be fine, and your trip will be amazing, but remain cautious.

The Documents

You need to have the documents on your to-do list, because passports or vaccinations take you up to 14 days, be sure to check all the regulations from that country in advance.

Personal ID

• Passport
  Ensure it’s valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date.
• Visa
  Check if a visa is required for entry into the destination country.

Vehicle Documents

• Driver’s License
  A valid driver’s license from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Vehicle Registration
  Proof of ownership or permission to use the vehicle.
• Insurance
  International car insurance is often referred to as a “Green Card.”
• Carnet de Passage
  Required for some countries, to temporarily import a vehicle.

Travel Documents

• Travel Insurance
  Some countries may require proof of health or travel insurance.
• Vaccination Records
  Required for some countries, especially if traveling from areas with certain diseases.
• Itinerary
  Proof of onward travel or a return ticket is often requested.

The Vehicle

For the next period your car will also be your home, so try to make it as comfortable as possible. Besides safety, try to bring what relaxes you and your party with you.

Vehicle Inspection

Schedule a thorough vehicle inspection. Ensure the oil is changed, the brakes are in good condition, and the tires are properly inflated with adequate tread depth. Check the battery for charge and secure connections. Don’t forget to inspect the lights, windshield wipers, fluid levels (coolant, brake, transmission, and washer fluid), belts, hoses, and the air conditioning system to avoid any surprises on the road.

Road Trip Equipment

Try to bring only the necessary things and avoid being unorganized.

• Safety Kit
  Include items like a spare tire, jack, jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlight, and basic tools. Depending on your route if you encounter snowy/ice roads, think of having chains, a shovel, or an anti-freeze spray.
• Roof Box
  No matter how much space you have there is room for more. So if your plan includes some camping then the roof box will be mandatory. This can also allow you to take more stuff, but I love to travel as compact as possible.
• Kids
  All starts with the child seat or booster. The rest is optional, but during summer some shades on the rear would bring some comfort to your kid sleeping.
• Sport Activities
  Transporting rear bike racks, ski gear, or water sports equipment can be a hassle. To save yourself the headache, plan ahead and consider renting these items at your destination instead of investing in your own.
• Entertainment
  My number one will always be music, so depending on your drive/car, get your stick drive ready or muscle up your Spotify account. Tablet, phones needs to be charged, and make sure that all the necessary cables or chargers are at your fingertips.

The Budget

Try to balance your budget between Move (car, rental, flights), Fun (activities), Food, and Rest (accommodation). For your car travel try to consider budgeting these:

• Fuel Costs
  Calculate fuel consumption based on your car’s mileage and current fuel prices.
• Tolls and Parking
  Account for any toll roads or parking fees. Always add a 20% margin to your estimation.
• Equipment Rental
  You might need a roof box, different types of supports, or other stuff that i’m missing here.
• Insurances or Fees needed for driving in specific areas/parks.

The Time

Being a freelancer offered me a great opportunity to travel at my own pace without being restricted to a short period or city break. It also taught me how to organize my time between work and travel, considering that I traveled with Clara, from when she was just one month old. That being said if you find yourself in a different situation you can still do it by following these simple steps:

Schedule

First, establish your calendar with your start and end date, if you’re under a tight schedule because you’re heading back to work, try to return at least 2 days before so you can rest and reorganize your stuff. If you have kids, they will need to re-accommodate with the early wake-up for school.

Driving Time

Don’t overextend yourself. Aim for 8-10 hours of driving per day, max. Take regular breaks for physical activity and avoid junk food that could sap your energy.

Family Time

This is a great time to connect with your loved ones, especially with kids. Play games, talk about topics the little ones enjoy, or sing along to great artists like Michael Jackson or Eminem, Clara’s favorites.

Best Roadtrips

Route	Year	Party
Lefkada, Greece	2012	Friends
Eurotrip Benelux	2023	Friends
Eurotrip Viena	2014	Friends
Cyprus	2014	Couple
USA California	2016	Couple
Eurotrip Timewarp	2017	Friends
Eurotrip Berlin	2018	Family
Eurotrip Malaga	2019	Family
Skiathos, Greece	2019	Friends
Kefalonia, Greece	2020	Friends
Eurotrip Dubrovnik	2021	Family
Eurotrip Paris	2022	Family & Friends
Thassos, Greece	2022	Friends
Tuscany, Italy	2022	Family
Jordan	2022	Couple
Moldova	2023	Friends
Turkey	2023	Friends
London, UK	2023	Family
Finland	2023	Family
Cyprus	2024	Family
USA California	2024	Family
Eurotrip Vilnius	2024	Family